QUESTION Is there any research to produce anti malaria vaccine, if not, why? ANSWER There are many teams of scientists working hard to try to produce a malaria vaccine. In fact, only last year, the preliminary results of a vaccine trial were published. The vaccine, called RTS,S, has been produced by GlaxoSmithKline and is in the midst of Phase III trials in Africa. The preliminary … [Read more...]
Helping Those Affected with Malaria in Africa
QUESTION: What are some things that might be done to make the situation better for those most affected with malaria in Africa? ANSWER: Currently, the emphasis on decreasing the burden of malaria on those most affected in Africa is based on a combination of prevention, education, research and treatment. In more detail: Prevention: This is arguably one of the keys to sustainably reducing … [Read more...]
Malaria Vaccine from Mosquito Saliva
One of the more promising avenues of creating a vaccine for malaria involves going inside mosquitoes' bodies — typically the source of the disease's spread — to develop the key component of the vaccine. Research published online in the journal Science today shows the barriers and future direction for that vaccine. A clinical trial of such a vaccine showed that it was safe, but that it didn't … [Read more...]
REVIEW: The Use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy to Protect Against Malaria Infection
Review of Le Port A, et al. (2011), ‘Prevention of Malaria during Pregnancy: Assessing the Effect of the Distribution of IPTp Through the National Policy in Benin’, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 84 (Issue 2): pp 270-275 … [Read more...]
Research Could Lead to Mosquitoes Being Susceptible to Diseases They Transmit
Mosquitoes are becoming more resistant to current pesticides. That's troubling to Kansas State University biologist Kristin Michel, as it means malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases will continue spreading. A recent grant from the National Institutes of Health may change all that. Michel, an assistant professor of biology, is using the nearly $1.5 million grant for the four-year study, "The … [Read more...]
Key Malaria Scientists
QUESTION: I would like to know what key scientists are involved with the cure of Malaria. Thanks ANSWER: There are literally hundreds of scientists around the world who are all working on different aspects of curing malaria. The complexity of the life cycle of the parasite means that there are lots of different areas of potential research, and some scientists specialise very precisely on … [Read more...]